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Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Posted by roodonfood on October 1, 2015 in gluten free, Recipes, vegan

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

It’s hard to think of new breakfast ideas. Between morning grouchiness and an over eagerness to get to work, it’s the meal I spend the least time on. Luckily, these oat breakfast cookies are easy and super quick.

We got this vegan, gluten free recipe from Oh She Glows. It features just a few ingredients, peanut butter, banana, oats, flax seed, cinnamon and jam which means no added sugar. Putting it together only takes about 10 minutes, and it’s even less time to cook. We customized it a touch by adding chocolate chips. Cranberries are another addition we might try out next time around. ProTip: Since they have banana you should eat them within a few days. They’re tastiest fresh out of the oven.

Tags: breakfast ideas, flourless cookies, Gluten Free, oatmeal breakfast cookies, oh she glows, Vegan Permalink

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Tilapia with Sumac

Posted by roodonfood on September 3, 2015 in Recipes

Tilapia with Sumac

In the west, most people probably know sumac as a plant that gives you a rash. There is another form of sumac though that is popular in the Middle East. It’s a deep reddish/purple in color. It’s used to impart sour flavor. It’s somewhere in the realm of a not so sweet cranberry with a touch more natural sweetness. My introduction came at a Persian restaurant where sumac was available in a shaker right next to salt and pepper. I like this on fish because it’s a fun variation from the classic lemon-butter combination.

Cook Time: 10 minutes
Prep Time: 1 minute

Ingredients

2 pieces fish such as tilapia
1 t sumac
1 t garlic
1 t butter
cayenne to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Method:
Preheat a pan to medium low with a touch of butter. Season fish with all slices. Cook for about 2-3 minutes each side depending on thickness. Serve hot with rice.

Tags: easy fish recipes, easy recipes, food, persian food, sumac recipes Permalink

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Chickory: a Frugal Good Time in Your Coffee and Your Mouth

Posted by roodonfood on September 2, 2015 in Uncategorized

My curiosity in chickory came after reading about it’s role during the American Civil War. The Northern blockade was successfully cutting off supplies to the Confederates. As a result, they were forced to improvise. Louisiana, formerly a French colony would often incorporate it to extend expensive coffee or replace it altogether.

Chickory offers a delicious, almost smoky flavor that regular coffee doesn’t have. Since we’ve taken to brewing “cold press” at home, no coffee is complete without one scoop of this companion. (A little goes a long way). It can be found online, specialty food stores or in coffee stores.

Tags: chickory, cold press coffee, food Permalink

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Coney Island Visit: Baseball, Boardwalk and Beer

Posted by roodonfood on September 1, 2015 in Brooklyn

MCU Park

Living social had a great deal to see Brooklyn’s own minor league baseball team, the Cyclones for $10. Since this game against the Aberdeen Ironbirds was the last available evening game of the season we decided to check it out. We arrived with plenty of time to spare so we checked out the food options. They have ballpark standards like Cracker Jacks, Hotdogs (Nathans) and stuff like burgers and chicken tenders. They also offer more unique options like Aracinis from Aracini Bros. There were some gluten free/vegan friendly options which we opted for I.e Nathan’s krinkle fries. Additionally we picked up a can of Angry Orchard cider. Apparently, they sometimes sell Red Bridge (gluten free beer) too. This was not one of those times however.

Krinkle Fries and Angry Orchard

I felt like a rockstar when we got to our seats. The ticket attendant cleaned our seats with a towel before seating us. Arriving at 5, we were surprised at how empty it was. The game didn’t really start until 7 or so. As part of the pre-game however there was lots of entertainment including singers doing oldies and patriotic songs (military appreciation day), dancers and schwag giveaways. The Cyclones started off slow but eventually found their rhythm. The final score was a whopping 10-2. It was fun game, made better still by fireworks at the end. Unfortunately, it was a bit too late to make it out to Brighton when the game let out but it was a fun time still. If you have a chance to go, check out the Cyclones as they really make sure you get your money’s worth.

After the game we walked out onto a very, very long pier and got a glimpse of the full moon which looked very creepy. On the way back to the train we stopped by Coney Island main stay, Rudy’s (since 1934)for some mozzarella sticks. This was tasty with the only issue being they had no marinara sauce. My only recourse was once again BBQ sauce. It was a fun visit out to Coney – and it was great to see so much life out there. The rumors of Coney’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Tags: angry orchard, brooklyn, brookyn cyclones, coney island, Gluten Free, rudy's coney island, Vegan Permalink

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Ways to Use Fresh Tomatoes #9,921: Mozzarella and Tomato Sandwiches.

Posted by roodonfood on August 30, 2015 in gluten free, Snacks

Mozz-Tomato GF/Vegan

The little bodega down the road mysteriously manages to sell Jersey tomatoes cheaper than the farmer’s market. I don’t ask her to divulge secrets – I just look the other way and have enjoyed inexpensive fruits all summer long. With this latest batch we made mozzarella-tomato sandwiches two ways, vegan/gluten free and regular.

For the GF/Vegan, we used Go Veggie mozzarella slices, a couple of slices of tomato and Udi’s white bread. For the regular I used mozzarella cheese, a few spinach leaves, tomato and an English muffin. This is another 5 minute sandwich where the flavor of the tomato is emphasized. The heat of the summer won’t be missed, but I will miss good tomatoes.

Tags: Gluten Free, go veggie! cheese slices, udi's gluten free, Vegan, vegetarian Permalink

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Glutino Gluten Free Table Crackers (7oz)

Posted by roodonfood on August 29, 2015 in gluten free

Glutino Gluten Free Table Crackers

The Glutino focuses on the growing, lucrative Gluten Free market. I picked up these crackers on sale for $2.99 at Lifethyme green market in the West Village NYC. It’s a cute box. Each plank of crackers is two pieces which are easily broken apart.

They have that brittleness and crunch of non-gf water crackers and a touch of sweetness. They’re great with spreadable cheese, hummus and peanut butter. I loved this product and could be fooled into thinking it’s made with regular flour (their version is made with corn starch and soy flour). This is another good product from Glutino.

Tags: Gluten Free, glutino, Vegan Permalink

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B.O.E (Bell Pepper, Onion, and Eggplant Sandwich)

Posted by roodonfood on August 28, 2015 in Recipes, vegan

I might’ve already taken a bite.

My father take prides in his garden so he was happy when Ma came up with this easy way to use extra eggplant. Eaten open-faced or in sandwich form, it’s roughly equal parts eggplant, bell pepper and onion atop rye bread with a bit of seasoning. It’s a simple way to enjoy fresh vegetables and only takes about 5 minutes to put together. I recommend having some potato chips on the side. Just goes to show that food doesn’t have to be fancy or heavily seasoned to be enjoyable.

Cook Time: 5 minutes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings 3
Ingredients:
1/2 eggplant, ½ inch pieces
½ onion, sliced into rings
½ bell pepper, sliced bite sized
mayo/veganaise (optional)
salt
pepper
cayenne
paprika

Method:
In a pan, cook onion, eggplant and bell pepper for 5-7 minutes till everything is a bit wilted. Flip egg plant and bell pepper as needed. Serve on rye bread. Season with salt, pepper, paprika and a bit of cayenne powder. I liked it open faced but sandwich form works well too.

Tags: Vegan, vegan sandwiches Permalink

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Cold Brew Coffee: Now At Home

Posted by roodonfood on August 7, 2015 in Uncategorized

Coffee Sock

Cold brew coffee is being sold by every man, woman and child here in the U.S. Talk about job creator! For those unfamiliar, the drink is made by steeping coffee in cold water over a long period of time. Iced coffee on the other hand is hot coffee which is chilled and has ice added.

Cold brew is considered tastier by many because not heating makes it less acidic and draws out more sweet notes. Because the exposure time is longer than conventional drip, it’s stronger coffee. The lessened acidity also means, it’s less likely to bother your stomach. Also, it’s way cheaper than buying coffees out for $2-$5 each.

We were gifted this Coffee Sock Cold Brew kit and we’re making good use of here during the summer. It’s a pretty simple setup. There is a mason jason and a filter. You fill the water to the desired level. Next, you scoop coffee into the filter. Twist the top of the filter and submerge the body into the water. Close the lid so the ring on the end sticks out. For best results you’ll want to wait 6-10 hours.

Coffee Filter

When Tom Petty sang “The waiting is the hardest part” in their 1981 single he clearly was referring to cold brew coffee. He’s so right.

The Coffee Sock Cold brew kit sells in quart and half-gallon sizes. Prices range from $12.50-$19.99 plus shipping.

Tags: coffee sock, cold brew coffee Permalink

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Giant Bagels: New York Public Art by Hanna Liden

Posted by roodonfood on August 6, 2015 in Uncategorized

Bagels

On the way to Jefferson Market library for my weekly book pickup, I spotted this bagel themed art on Avenue of the Americas at 9th street on the edge of Greenwich Village (Ruth Wittenberg Plaza). It features a stack of bagels including pumpernickel and sesame (my go to). Popping up through the middle is a single tulip. It’s made from foam, polyurethane and paint. They’re about four feet in diameter.

The artist’s name is Hanna Liden from Sweden who had her first bagel years ago as a student at Parsons. Other than pizza, it’s hard to think of another iconic food more closely associated with New York City. What other foods would you suggest?

Tags: food, hanna liden, new york city, new york public art Permalink

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RoodonFood Reviews: Eddie’s Cafe, San Francisco Diner

Posted by roodonfood on August 5, 2015 in Food Adventures

During a recent trip to San Francisco we discovered the hole in the wall diner known as Eddie’s Cafe in Lower Haight where we were staying. It seemed to be full of locals – No people with hastily bought San Francisco hoodies or maps here. With only around 10 tables, it’s a small place. Behind the counter, the shelves are full of mugs, presumably for regulars.

Arguably, it was my best meal during the trip. The menu features breakfast standards as well as soul food (though I arrived a little too early to check out staples like collard greens). Refreshingly, they offered biscuits or grits with most breakfast items. The biscuits are made in house. They’re not buttermilk as one might expect in a southern joint but they’re tasty. See below. They’re mini and look a bit like dinner rolls, only sweeter – not unlike King’s Hawaiian. I also got scrambled eggs and sausage. I love that the hash browns are scattered style. This is a great option if you’re in the neighborhood. Also, the coffee is tasty too.

Eddie’s Cafe
800 Divisadero St @ Fulton
M-Sat: 8-4pm
Sun: 9-4pm
(415) 563-9780